Firefighters, homeowner treated at scene of Middleboro fire

MIDDLEBORO – Two firefighters and a resident were treated at the scene of a house fire in a local businessman’s home on Wednesday night.

The Middleboro Fire Department responded to 8 Joseph Robert Lane about 6:30 p.m. after receiving a call from the alarm company that services the home.

“It was followed up by a 911 call,” said Fire Chief Lane Benjamino. “The woman said the first floor was on fire, then hung up.”

As firefighters were en route, the residents of the home attempted to extinguish the fire.

“They used fire extinguishers, then tried a hose, but were unsuccessful,” Benjamino said.

When the first firefighters arrived on scene, there was active fire inside the home near the front door. The fire was contained to a sitting room area that has a desk, chair and television, the chief said.

“The male resident was sitting there and then went outside to start the grill and when he went back inside, it was on fire,” Benjamino said.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the bulk of the fire within about 10 minutes of arriving, but it wasn’t until about 30 minutes after receiving the call for the fire that it was completely extinguished.

The fire chief said that area of town doesn’t have fire hydrants, so firefighters used a tanker truck to douse the flames. Because there was active fire on arrival, tankers from Carver and Plympton responded. An engine from Bridgewater also responded to the scene while an engine from Lakeville covered the fire station.

Two firefighters were treated at the scene for exhaustion and the female resident was evaluated by paramedics because she was distraught and had minor smoke inhalation, Benjamino said.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, but it doesn’t appear to be suspicious.

“We’re not sure yet what exactly caused the fire,” he said. “It certainly doesn’t look intentional, but we just don’t know if it’s accidental or electrical.”

The fire was contained to the first-floor room, but the home sustained heat and smoke damage. The residents aren’t currently able to stay in the home, but are living in an out house on the property, the chief said.

The 4,400-plus-square-foot home, which was built in 1996, is owned by Ron and Lawanda Mello, according to town assessors records. It is valued at $452,200, including the land. The home is also a studio for Ron Mello, who operates a pottery business out of it by the name of Ron Mello Studio Art.

Benjamino believes the residents will be able to move back into at least one side of the home soon after it’s cleaned.